“Tis better to give then receive’ has always been the credo for the holiday season, since before I was a kid, but everyone who said that always wanted someone else to be on the giving side, but I digress.
Anyway, I‘m at the point in my life where the majority of my gift giving family and friends are remote, and out exchanging of gifts is simplified to gift certificates. But in the good old gift giving days, I always wished for a list to guide the givers in my life.
So I have put together a list of gift possibilities guaranteed to ease the pain of receiving this holiday season.
First up are some DVDs that have been released this year.
The Zombie Diaries – This is my #1 pick of the year for the horror genre. An innovative, small budget film from England, where monsters meet monsters.
The Wizard of Gore – Murder, deception, drug use in the vein of Videodrome. Nothing says Happy Holidays like naked Suicide Girls.
Diary of the Dead – The latest offering from the maestro, George Romero, this flick gives another prospective of the beginning of the outbreak. Actually I was hooked at George Romero.
30 Days of Night – Based on the IDW comic, this movie returns the vampire from the romantic figure they’ve been portrayed as to what they should be, dark, dangerous, ugly and hungry.
Wanted – Based on the Image Comics limited series of the same name, this flick may be missing some of the characters and elements of the comics, but this is still a lot of fun. Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The Godfather “The Coppola Restoration” Trilogy on Blu-ray – September saw the long anticipated release of the ultimate in mafia films, “Godfather”, Godfather II”, and “Godfather III” in the blu-ray format. The first three discs contain the trilogy, but the four hours of special features need a disc of their own. The fourth disc contains the Original Supplements;
Making of “The Godfather“
Additional Scenes
The Corleone Family Tree
Photo Galleries and Storyboards
The Music of “The Godfather“
Profiles of the Filmmakers
“The Godfather“ Historical Timeline
Filming Locations
All New Supplements;
Godfather World HD
The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn‘t HD
When the Shooting Stopped HD
Emulsional Rescue Revealing “The Godfather“ HD
“The Godfather“ On The Red Carpet HD
Four Short Films on the “The Godfather” HD
A definite must for the hardcore fan.
Shrek the Third on Blu-ray – The big lovable ogres’ third movie is finally out in Blu-ray format. All the gang has returned, and Shrek, Donkey, and Puss-in-Boots must find an heir to the throne, save the princesses and prepare for Shrek’s impending fatherhood. In the Blu-ray format you get Exclusive Extras;
The Animators Corner: Picture-in-Picture interactive Storyboards
The World of Shrek
My Menus: Customizable Character Menus
Shreks Trivia Track
And More Shrek-tacular Fun in High Definition:
Learn the Donkey Dance (HD)
Lost Scenes (HD)
The Tech of Shrek (HD)
Big Green Goofs (HD)
Shreks Guide to Parenthood (HD)
Merlins Magic Crystal Ball (HD)
Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1 – A must for all Terminator fans, this series is filling in the gaps between T2 and T3 with the possibility of changing the continuity. it’s all good and Summer Glau plays a great terminator.
Big Bang Theory – This was my #1 TV comedy for the 2007 – 08 season. These guys are us on some level, and catching the references is great fun.
There‘s quite a few good reads on the bookshelves. Here‘s a few that I‘ve been reading.
Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series has kept me entertained for several years now. Romantic horror in an alternate United States, and titles that are a play on Clint Eastwood movie titles.
Lyndsay Sands has created a world where the vampires are blood drinkers, but not undead, minions of the night. Romantic thrillers that are so well written you won’t want to put them down. The novels are intertwined, but can be read as stand alone stories, just be prepared to use the family tree provided.
For the fans of BBC Americas Torchwood and Primevil, titan books has reasonably priced, hardcover novels from both shows. The stories fit within the continuity, and are a great way to fill the gaps between seasons.
The Watchmen trade paperback will be a must read, and has been released in multiple versions of hardcover and softcover, and the issues are being reprinted. I also recommend going to your local comic book store and picking up the trade paperbacks for the hit flicks of 2008. There are origin stories for the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and numerous Joker stories, as well as the collection for Wanted.
There was some stellar music released this year, some more mainstream than others.
Metallica‘s newest release, Death Magnetic, was a surprise for me, because this time they go back to the good old days. They may have matured musically, but the passion is back.
Another return to the past is the latest from Alice Cooper, Along Came a Spider. The story of a serial killer that falls in live with his last victim, this is reminiscent of his Welcome to My Nightmare. Slash on guitar doesn’t hurt either.
What do you get when assorted members of the Scandinavian death and black metal scene, take off the corpse paint, put on jeans and leather jackets, and get together for a side project? Answer, Chrome Division. Booze, Broads and Beelzebub is just some good old rock & roll. Songs like the title track, Raven Black Cadillac, and their version of ZZ Tops Sharp Dressed Man are sure to be among your favorites
Sweden’s Scar Symmetry released their third CD in 2008 with Holographic Universe. Though labeled as a death metal band, they craft some interesting melodies and combine them with dual vocals.
The latest outing from Cradle of Filth, Godspeed on the Devils Thunder, is another concept album dealing with serial killers. This time based on the French nobleman Gilles De Rais. Despite the black metal label, the lyrics are as descriptive and visual as any horror story.
